Agru Celebrates One Year Anniversary ofFirst High Temperature
Resistant Liner Project
The Problem: The Ngatamariki Power Station needed a geomembrane
that could withstand temperatures in excess of 80°C (176°F) for
years. Standard HDPE geomembranes can’t withstand sustained
exposure to temperatures above 60°C (140°F).
The Solution: Agru, for many years, has created High Temperature
Resistant (HTR) polyethylene piping for hot water applications.
With this vast knowledge and experience, Agru developed the fi rst
known HTR HDPE geomembrane in the marketplace.
For many years, 60°C has been the recommended maximum sustained
operating temperature for HDPE geomembranes. Temperatures in excess
of 60°C have been known to accelerate the adverse effects of UV
degradation, stress cracking, and oxidation on the performance
properties of traditional geomembranes. While HTR polyethylene had
been used by Agru successfully for many years in hot water piping
applications, it had not been successfully applied to geomembranes
until our innovative approach in 2012.
Early in 2012, Mighty River Power was facing a complex problem
at the Ngatamariki Power Station in New Zealand, and they came to
Agru for a solution. Their geothermal power station included a
brine pond that required containment of near boiling water which
was being pumped from underground to generate electricity at the
nearby power station. After leaving the power station and entering
the impoundment, the water temperature was still at 80°C.
Compounding the issue was the fact that local regulations
stipulated that the water be contained until it was cooled to 25°C
(77°F) or below before it was released into local lakes and rivers.
As the industry leader for innovation, Agru considered their
options and collaborated with resin suppliers to develop a special
grade of polyethylene that was suitable for long-term exposure in
high temperature applications.
The result was a geomembrane that could withstand temperatures
in excess of 80°C for years. The installation was completed in
October 2012 and Agru’s HTR geomembrane is still performing as
designed and is expected to do so for years to come.
High Temperature Resistant HDPE Geomembrane
Primary Layer: AGRU HDPE Linerwith nonwoven Geotextile 300g
underneath
Drainage Composite on top of Primary HDPE Liner
500 Garrison Road, Georgetown, South Carolina 29440 843-546-0600
800-373-2478 Fax: 843-527-2738email: [email protected]
www.AgruAmerica.com
The Best Protection for Your Future!
While Mighty River Power’s brine lagoon only required resistance
to a temperature of 80°C, Agru’s HTR geomembranes are resistant to
temperatures up to 100°C (212°F) depending on the specifi c
application(s) and the desired service life. Agru’s HTR
geomembranes are designed to provide the same level of chemical
resistance and performance properties for which Agru’s traditional
HDPE geomembranes have set the standard. Agru envisions that its
HTR geomembranes will provide a long-needed solution for industries
and applications where high temperature resistance is required
including, but not limited to the following:
• Power generation facilities and geothermal systems
applications • Industrial waste water containment facilities and
process water applications • Bioreactor landfi lls and bio-solids
management • Oil and gas industries • Mining operations and heap
leach facilities
Agru welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your
specifi c requirements for our HTR geomembranes or any of your
other projects that demand the quality found in Agru’s extensive
line of products.
Ngatamariki Power Station in New Zealand
Installation team in front of lagoon
Fiberglass Pipe OD 900mm
© Agru America, Inc. 4.16This information is provided for
reference purposes only and is not intended as a warranty or
guarantee. Agru America, Inc. assumes no liability in connection
with the use of this information.
